L.A. PARKER: Where is Christie while Trenton youths are murdered?

Mack, on Thursday, authorized a press release that called for the drawing of a line in the sand with a nonsensical evaulation that his “administration continues to do its part as evidenced by the recent rehiring of 15 police officers.”

Not exactly a great assessment of responsibility when residents line up at city council meetings with accusations that police do not respond to calls about open-air drug deals being made right outside their homes.

Adding police officers does not guarantee reduction in crime. Trenton needs police on the street, but despite past Mack claims that neighborhoods would benefit from foot soldiers, his promise never delivered sustained action.

An accident at Chambers St. and Greenwood Avenue this week attracted five police cars with two patrolmen working while three others sat in their vehicles. A poker handful of police cars for a fender bender seemed like overkill.

Plus, a perception exists that some police have pulled back on their duties as a response to a bloodletting of their ranks along with another backlash to the hiring of a minority — this time, Ralph Rivera, Jr.

Accurate or not, perception matters, especially in a predominantly African-American and Latino community that may believe police disregard their safety concerns.

Realistic, or not, a top-heavy Caucasian police force, many who reside outside Trenton, easily can be perceived as parasitic with no real allegiance to city residents.

Meanwhile, Trenton residents deserve much of the blame as allowances are made for thugs, dropouts, gang members, and others who disrupt most attempts by those who seek ordinary lives.

Gov. Christie flutters across the U.S. campaigning for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, while young men are being murdered right around the corner from his office.

State representatives have shuttered their mouths as youths and others are gunned down in Camden, Atlantic City, Newark, and Trenton.

Urban New Jersey is under siege.

Money may not buy love or happiness, but millions can put police officers back in their boots for active duty.

Several weeks ago, 19-year-old Tre Lane suffered a similar fate as DaVila, gunned down on a N.Willow St. porch.

In another bad attempt to reel in Trenton crime, expect state politicians to enact legislation that stipulates all new city houses be constructed without porches or stoops.

That effort, and Mack’s unproductive comment about “drawing a line in the sand,” should reduce Trenton’s roaring murder rate.

— L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.